president obama and mitt romney are fine-tuning their message to voters with the first presidential debate one week away. chuck todd is nbc's political director and chief white house correspondent. chuck, good morning to you. >> reporter: well, good morning, savannah. no swing state has been harder for mitt romney to gain traction in than ohio. it's why he's got this bus trip this week, trying to get it back into play. the president is heading it there today to try to put the state away. it's why they are both there this morning. >> it is time to get the real refs, and you know what, it reminds me of president obama and the economy. if you can't get it right, it's time to get out. >> reporter: barnstorming through ohio, the republican ticket is hoping their bus tour will make up lost ground as more polls show mitt romney trailing president obama in this pivotal swing state. in dayton tuesday romney hammered mr. obama on taxes. >> one idea, i admit, one thing he did not do in his first four years which he said he'll do in the next four years and that's to raise taxes. anybody here who think